Governor John Bel Edwards will once again supports legislation in the upcoming regular session to increase the minimum wage. Louisiana is one of 21 states that sets its minimum wage with the federal rate which is $7.25 an hour. Edwards says it’s past time to raise the minimum wage
“$7.25 is unacceptable, it was unacceptable in 2016, and I think it’s downright immoral in 2023,” said Edwards.
Bills are expected to be filed to set a minimum wage in Louisiana above the federal rate. Business groups have lobbied against previous legislation to increase the minimum wage and the Republican-led legislature has voted them down. But that will not stop Edwards in his final year in office.
“We will again be asking for a minimum wage increase in the upcoming legislative session and we really hope that the legislature will see fit to pass that this year,” said Edwards.
Edwards has also put 33-million dollars in his proposed budget to fund a minimum wage increase for some 4,700 state workers.
“The state government can and will lead by example and so we will use the powers that I have to raise the minimum wage for state employees to a minimum of $10 per hour,” said Edwards.
The Louisiana Budget Project told the Louisiana Illuminator website that the governor should look to raise the minimum wage for state workers to 15-dollars an hour.
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